He chose twelve, whom he also named apostles
Published Sep 6, 2022 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Gospel • Luke 6:12-19
Among the Gospel writers, only Luke attributes to Jesus the bestowal of the name “apostles” upon the Twelve. This special group among Jesus’ followers are not simply to be with Jesus, but are also to be his “emissaries” or “ambassadors” — they are “sent” with the authority and power of Jesus (Greek apostoloi means “persons who are sent”) (Mk 3:14). Luke puts the disciples, whose calling he has described (5:1-11), among the first in the list of the Twelve. Simon is given the name Kephas/Peter which means “Rock.” The other Simon is given the nickname “Zealot,” either because he is “zealous” of the Law of Moses or he belongs to the Zealot party, a fanatical nationalist group fighting the Roman occupiers. The second James is the son of Alphaeus, and Judas is remembered as a traitor who betrayed Jesus.
In the early Christian community, the designation has been enlarged to include others who were sent by the Lord himself, like Paul, or by the Church in her name: e.g., Barnabas and those in the Pauline circle like Timothy, Titus, and Silas. Still, the Twelve would be remembered as the foundation of the Church, the new Israel, just as the Chosen People was formed from the twelve tribes of Israel.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Gospel • Luke 6:12-19
Among the Gospel writers, only Luke attributes to Jesus the bestowal of the name “apostles” upon the Twelve. This special group among Jesus’ followers are not simply to be with Jesus, but are also to be his “emissaries” or “ambassadors” — they are “sent” with the authority and power of Jesus (Greek apostoloi means “persons who are sent”) (Mk 3:14). Luke puts the disciples, whose calling he has described (5:1-11), among the first in the list of the Twelve. Simon is given the name Kephas/Peter which means “Rock.” The other Simon is given the nickname “Zealot,” either because he is “zealous” of the Law of Moses or he belongs to the Zealot party, a fanatical nationalist group fighting the Roman occupiers. The second James is the son of Alphaeus, and Judas is remembered as a traitor who betrayed Jesus.
In the early Christian community, the designation has been enlarged to include others who were sent by the Lord himself, like Paul, or by the Church in her name: e.g., Barnabas and those in the Pauline circle like Timothy, Titus, and Silas. Still, the Twelve would be remembered as the foundation of the Church, the new Israel, just as the Chosen People was formed from the twelve tribes of Israel.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.